TWI467260B - One-piece lc type optical fiber adapter - Google Patents

Description

LC type single piece fiber optic adapter

The present invention relates to a fiber optic adapter, and more particularly to an LC type single piece fiber optic adapter.

Fiber optics has revolutionized communications. As the use of optical fibers increases, it is increasingly important to be able to repeatedly mate optical fibers. To connect two fibers together, use fiber optic connectors and fiber adapters, for example. Fiber optic connectors are typically placed at the ends of the fiber and can be inserted into the opening of the fiber optic adapter. The fiber optic adapter has two openings, one for each fiber optic connector.

Conventional LC-type fiber optic adapters comprise two identical sections, each consisting of a rectangular housing with a flange on each end. A half inner casing is provided inside each portion of the fiber optic adapter. The inner casing has a cylindrical body and a flange extends outwardly from the intermediate portion of the cylinder. Each of the half adapters has a ridge therein that allows the inner housing to be placed within the adapter by accessing the opening in the flange. Once the inner casing is placed in each of the half adapters, the adapters are welded together by ultrasonic welding the flanges on each of the half adapters.

The above design has the problem that the fiber leads inserted into the adapter's connector are typically naturally bent when the adapter is secured. In this case, the associated stress will cause the two identical parts of the adapter to separate after a period of time. A solution to this problem is to use metal adapters to increase resistance to these stresses. However, metal-made adapters have higher material costs and casting costs than adapters made of plastic.

In view of this, there is a need to propose an LC type fiber optic adapter to solve the above problems.

The object of the present invention is to provide an LC type single-piece optical fiber adapter which has fewer components and is simpler to assemble; moreover, the outer casing system is integrally formed, thereby avoiding the associated stress so that two identical partial adapters are Separate after a while.

To achieve the above object, the LC type single-piece optical fiber adapter of the present invention comprises an integrally formed body having an axial cavity formed by a first side wall, a second side wall, a third side wall and a fourth Formed around the side wall, wherein the first side wall is opposite to the third side wall and connected to the second and fourth side walls, the axial ends of the axial cavity of the body each have an opening, and the axial space is empty Having at least one partition wall parallel to the second side wall and the fourth side wall and connected to the first side wall and the third side wall, the axial cavity of the body is divided into a plurality of portions, the first side wall An access opening is formed, the top of the partition wall is formed with a recess, and the inner surface of the third side wall is provided with a pair of parallel ridges, which are divided into two parts through the partition wall and substantially perpendicular to the An axial cavity of the body, the pair of ridges defining a first groove, and the second surface of the second and fourth side walls respectively defining a second groove and a third groove connected to the first groove The second at the opening of the axial end of the axial cavity The inner surface of the fourth side wall and each of both sides of the partition wall, and each section is provided with projections. The LC type single-piece optical fiber adapter of the present invention further includes an inner casing that is receivable in a cavity of the body, the inner casing including a flange and a plurality of hollow cylinders penetrating the flange, the convex A rim can be inserted into the first trench, the second trench, and the third trench, wherein the inner casing can be placed into the cavity of the body by an opening in the first sidewall. The LC type single-piece optical fiber adapter of the present invention further includes a cover plate for covering the opening on the first side wall, wherein the cover plate is formed with a protruding portion, and the protruding portion is provided with a protrusion, and the protruding portion is provided with a protrusion Corresponding to the recess on the top of the partition wall. When the projection on the cover plate melts and when the cover covers the opening in the first side wall, the projection on the cover and the molten projection are received in the recess on the top of the partition wall.

The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the embodiments of the invention.

Referring to Fig. 1, a conventional LC type fiber optic connector 100 has a substantially rectangular shape with a square cross section. The outer surface of the connector 100 is provided with a resilient latch 120. The latch 120 is integral with the outer casing of the connector 100 and has a movable pivot 125 at the bottom for allowing tab 126 vertical connectors. The central axis 150-150 moves up and down. In addition, a ferrule 140 extends from the opening 110 of a two-piece composition comprising a housing 110 and a cover 130, both of which are connected by ultrasonic welding. Together. The interior of the two-piece composition also includes a spring (not shown) that allows the sleeve 140 to move back and forth through the opening 111. The latch 120 includes a pair of protrusions 121 on opposite sides of the lug 126.

Referring to Figures 2 through 5, the duplex fiber optic adapter 200 of the present invention includes an integrally formed body 205 and a cover plate 300. In the preferred embodiment, the body 205 is defined by a top sidewall 210, a bottom sidewall 211, a right sidewall 212, and a left sidewall 213. The body 205 has an axial cavity inside which is divided into two parts by a partition wall 214 which is parallel to the right side wall 212 and the left side wall 213 and which is connected to the top side wall 210 and the bottom side wall 211. Described by the top side wall 210, the bottom side wall 211, the partition wall 214 and the right side wall 212 is a right axial cavity having two opposite first right opening 207a and one second right opening 208a in the axial direction; The top side wall 210, the bottom side wall 211, the partition wall 214 and the left side wall 213 define a left axial cavity having two opposite first left openings 207b and one second left opening 208b in the axial direction. Further, on the top of the partition wall 214, a recess 219 is formed.

A pair of lugs 201 and 202 are provided on the outside of the body. One lug 202 is tied to the right side wall 212 and the other lug 201 is tied to the left side wall 213. The lugs 201 and 202 are used to secure the adapter 100 to a surface. The interior of the cavity of body 205 includes a pair of ridges 235 and 236 positioned on the inner surface of bottom side wall 211 that divides it into two portions through partition wall 214 and is generally perpendicular to the axial cavity of body 205 .

The parallel ridges 235 and 236 define a groove 238 that is perpendicular to the axial cavity of the body 205. The groove 238 is positioned at an intermediate position between the first openings 207a, 207b and the second openings 208a, 208b. The width of the groove 238 is equal to the thickness of the flanges 450 of the two portions 410 and 420 of the inner casing. Each of the right side wall 212 and the left side wall 213 has a groove 239 that is in line with the groove 238. On the joints of the lugs 201, 202 and the right side wall 212 and the left side wall 213, recesses 237 are formed in communication with the grooves 239, wherein the two recesses 237 are in line with the grooves 239.

The connection between the right side wall 212 of the first right opening 207a and the bottom side wall 211 and the connection of the partition wall 214 and the bottom side wall 211 are respectively provided with a protrusion 262; and the left side wall 213 of the first left opening 207b is The junction of the bottom side wall 211 and the junction of the partition wall 214 and the bottom side wall 211 are also respectively provided with a protrusion 262. Similarly, a connection between the right side wall 212 of the second right opening 208a and the bottom side wall 211 and the connection of the partition wall 214 and the bottom side wall 211 are respectively provided with a protrusion 262; and located at the left side of the second left opening 208b. A joint 262 is also provided at the junction of the side wall 213 and the bottom side wall 211 and the junction of the partition wall 214 and the bottom side wall 211, respectively.

An access opening 250 is located on the top side wall 210 to allow the two portions of the inner casings 410 and 420 to be placed into the axial cavity of the body 205, or to allow the body 205 to be formed by injection molding.

The two portions of the inner casings 410 and 420 are identical and are formed of plastic in an injection molded manner. The inner casing of each portion includes two hollow cylinders 440, and one end of the cylinder 440 is provided with a substantially rectangular one of the flanges 450. The two partial inner casings 410, 420 are joined together by respective flanges 450 to define two common cylinders. The total thickness of the two flanges 450 is equal to the width of the grooves 238 and 239. When the combination of the inner casings 410 and 420 is to be placed in the body 205, a portion of the flange 450 of the inner casing 410 is slid into the grooves 238 and 239 of the body 205, and the other portion of the inner casing 420 is also It is placed in the body 205 in the same manner.

The two portions of the inner casings 410 and 420 of the cylinder 440 are coaxial within the body 205 and define two common cylinders. A cylindrical sleeve 500 is positioned within a common cylinder. The cover plate 300 has a bottom surface 320 and a rectangular strip-like protrusion 330. The protrusion 330 is disposed on the bottom surface 320 and corresponds to the recess 219 on the top of the partition wall 214 and can be received in the recess 219. On the projection 330, a smaller projection 332 is provided, the bottom surface of which is rectangular and the cross section is triangular. In addition, the cover plate 300 also has a pair of ears 310 that correspond to the recesses 237 on the lugs 201, 202, respectively (see Figure 5).

When the fiber optic adapter 200 of the present invention is to be assembled, the two portions of the inner casings 410 and 420 are placed into the axial cavity of the body 205 through the access opening 250. The protrusion 332 on the cover plate 300 is then melted, for example, by ultrasonic waves, and the cover plate 300 is placed over the access opening 250, at which time the projection 330 will be placed into the recess 219 on the partition wall 214, and the melted projection 332 Therefore, it is limited to the inside of the recess 219 and is bonded to the partition wall 214. Since the tabs 310 on the cover plate 300 correspond to the recesses 237 on the lugs 201, 202, the tabs 310 are positioned within the recesses 237 when the cover plate 300 is overlaid on the access opening 250.

When the fiber optic adapter 200 is used, the connector 100 is pushed into the body 205 from the first right opening 207a, at which time the protrusions 121 on the opposite sides of the lugs 126 of the latch 120 are deflected by the action of the protrusions 262. Downward, the sleeve 140 of the connector 100 will penetrate into the sleeve 500 of the adapter 200. When the protrusion 121 passes through the protrusion 262, since it is not restricted by it, the protrusion 121 may bounce upward due to its own elastic force, so that the protrusion 121 is positioned behind the protrusion 262, preventing the connector 100 from being pulled back. The other connector 100 is also inserted into the second right opening 208a of the body 205 in the same manner, and the sleeve 140 is inserted into the other end of the sleeve 500 to be in contact with the sleeve 140 of the other end connector 100 to achieve docking. the goal of. Similarly, the connector 100 can also be inserted into the first left opening 207b and the second left opening 208b of the body 205 for docking purposes.

The fiber optic adapter of the present invention can also be designed to dock four pairs (eight) of fiber optic connectors (not shown), that is, the axial cavity in the body is divided into four parts by three partition walls parallel to each other, eight The fiber optic connectors are insertable into the openings of the axial ends of the axial cavities separated by the four dividing walls to form abutment. Since the other structure of the fiber adapter of this part is the same as that of the fiber adapter 200, it will not be described here.

Since the present system of the optical fiber adapter 200 of the present invention is integrally formed, the problem of fusion by ultrasonic welding can be avoided.

The present invention has been disclosed in the foregoing embodiments, and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any of the ordinary skill in the art to which the invention pertains can be modified and modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. . Therefore, the scope of the invention is defined by the scope of the appended claims.

100. . . The optical fiber connector

110. . . case

111. . . Opening

120. . . Latch

121. . . Protrusion

125. . . hub

126. . . Lug

130. . . Cover

140. . . casing

150. . . Axis

200. . . Fiber optic adapter

201. . . Lug

202. . . Lug

205. . . Ontology

207a. . . Opening

207b. . . Opening

208a. . . Opening

208b. . . Opening

210. . . Side wall

211. . . Side wall

212. . . Side wall

213. . . Side wall

214. . . Partition wall

219. . . Concave

235. . . Ridge

236. . . Ridge

237. . . Trench

238. . . Trench

239. . . Trench

250. . . Access opening

262. . . Protrusion

300. . . Cover

310. . . Ear piece

320. . . Bottom

330. . . Protruding

332. . . Protrusion

410. . . Partial inner casing

420. . . Partial inner casing

440. . . Cylinder

450. . . Flange

500. . . Sleeve

Figure 1: A perspective view of a conventional LC type fiber optic connector.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the body of the fiber optic adapter of the present invention.

Figure 3 is an exploded view of the fiber optic adapter of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the fiber optic adapter of the present invention in which the inner casing has been assembled into the body.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the cover of the fiber optic adapter of the present invention.

200‧‧‧Fiber Adapter

201‧‧‧ 耳耳

202‧‧‧ ears

205‧‧‧ body

210‧‧‧ side wall

212‧‧‧ side wall

238‧‧‧ trench

262‧‧‧ Protrusion

410‧‧‧ Partial inner casing

420‧‧‧ Partial inner casing

440‧‧‧Cylinder

450‧‧‧Flange

500‧‧‧Sleeve tube

Claims (6)

A fiber optic adapter for docking fiber optic connectors, each of the fiber optic connectors including a generally rectangular outer casing, a sleeve, and an elastic latch, wherein the outer casing has an opening, the casing is The outer casing protrudes from the opening, one end of the latch is connected to the outer surface of the outer casing, and the other end is movable up and down in a direction. The latch is provided with a pair of protrusions on opposite sides of the latch. The fiber optic adapter includes: an integrally formed body having an axial cavity formed by a first side wall, a second side wall, a third side wall and a fourth side wall, wherein the first side wall and the first side wall are The third side wall is opposite to and connected to the second and fourth side walls, and the axial cavity of the body has an opening at each of the axial ends, and the axial cavity is provided with the second side wall and the fourth side The at least one partition wall parallel to the side wall and connected to the first side wall and the third side wall partitions the axial cavity of the body into a plurality of portions, and the first side wall is provided with an access opening on the top of the partition wall Forming a recess, the The inner surface of the three side walls is provided with a pair of parallel ridges, which are divided into two parts through the partition walls and are substantially perpendicular to the axial cavity of the body, the pair of ridges defining a first groove, A second groove and a third groove are respectively disposed on the inner surfaces of the second and fourth side walls, and are connected to the first groove, the second at the opening of the axial end of the axial cavity And a plurality of protrusions on the inner surface of the fourth side wall and on both sides of each of the partition walls; an inner casing accommodating in the cavity of the body, the inner casing comprising a flange and a plurality of a hollow cylinder penetrating the flange, the flange being insertable into the first groove, the second groove and the third groove, wherein the inner casing can be inserted into the access opening on the first side wall a cavity in the body; and a cover plate for covering the access opening on the first side wall, wherein the cover plate is formed with a protrusion, the protrusion is provided with a protrusion, and the protrusion is associated with the protrusion a recess corresponding to the top of the partition wall, wherein when the protrusion on the cover plate melts and when the cover plate covers the first When connected to the side walls of the access opening, and a protrusion protruding portion based on the melting plate receiving recess on top of the partition wall. The fiber optic adapter of claim 1, wherein the fiber optic adapter includes a dividing wall that divides the axial cavity formed by the first, second, third, and fourth side walls into two portions. The fiber optic adapter of claim 1, wherein the fiber optic adapter comprises three partition walls that are parallel to each other, separating axial cavities formed by the first, second, third, and fourth side walls. For four parts. The fiber optic adapter of claim 1, wherein the cover plate further has a pair of ears, and the outer surfaces of the second and fourth side walls are each provided with a lug, the lug and the second And a connecting portion of the fourth side wall, each of which is formed with a recess corresponding to the second and third grooves, respectively corresponding to the ears, wherein the cover covers the access opening on the first side wall The ears are tied in the recesses of the lugs. The fiber optic adapter of claim 1, wherein the projection on the cover is rectangular. The fiber optic adapter of claim 5, wherein the bottom surface of the protrusion on the protrusion is rectangular, and the protrusion on the protrusion has a triangular cross section.